The Law of Agency Doesn't Work
Jesus acts as Jehovah's agent (shaliach) — his representative. In Jewish
law, an agent acts with the full authority of the one who sent him. That's
why Jesus can be called "God," receive obeisance, and exercise authority —
he's acting on Jehovah's behalf, not as God himself. It's like an
ambassador who speaks for the king but isn't the king.
Show that biblical agency has strict limits that Jesus consistently breaks. No agent in Scripture (1) is called by God's personal name or title, (2) accepts worship or prayer, (3) claims to be God, or (4) is entrusted with spirits at death. Jesus does all four. Even in the NWT, Thomas says 'My Lord and my God!' () and Jesus responds 'Because you have seen me, you have believed' — no correction. The NWT of says Jehovah will give his glory 'to no one else.' If Jesus receives the same glory (), either Jehovah broke his promise or Jesus is not 'someone else.' The agency model collapses under its own weight.
Agents always redirect worship and authority to God. Jesus never does — he accepts it. That's the difference between an ambassador and a king.
The centurion in Matthew 8:5-10 and Luke 7:1-10 shows agency — Matthew says the centurion came, but Luke says he sent elders.
Exactly right — Matthew attributes the request to the centurion because the elders spoke on his behalf. But notice: nobody looks at the elders and says 'There goes the centurion.' Nobody calls the elders by the centurion's name. The actions are attributed to the sender, but the agents are never confused with the sender's identity. Yet Thomas calls Jesus 'my Lord and my God' (), and Paul calls him 'our great God and Saviour' (). That goes far beyond agency.
Moses was called God to Pharaoh in Exodus 7:1 — so agents CAN be called God.
Look carefully — God says Moses will be 'as God TO PHARAOH.' Not 'God of Israel.' Not 'the true God.' Not 'the Almighty.' Moses is never worshipped, never prayed to, never entrusted with anyone's spirit. And Psalm 82 — the other passage where beings are called 'gods' — those gods are corrupt judges whom God condemns to die like men. Is that the category you want to put Jesus in?
Angels are called 'Jehovah' in the Old Testament when they speak on his behalf.
When the angel of Jehovah speaks, he speaks Jehovah's words in the first person — but the angel in shows us the limit. When John falls to worship the angel, the angel says 'Don't do that! I'm a fellow slave. Worship God!' That's what a real agent does. Now compare Jesus — Thomas says 'my Lord and my God' and Jesus doesn't correct him. He says 'blessed are those who believe.' An agent redirects; Jesus accepts.
Jehovah gave Jesus the authority to receive worship — that's different from being God.
But your own NWT of says Jehovah will give his glory 'to no one else.' If Jesus receives the same worship as Jehovah — quotes a Jehovah-worship passage and applies it to Jesus — and if Jehovah won't share his glory with anyone else, then either Jehovah broke his own promise or Jesus isn't 'another.'
Don't mock the agency concept itself — it's a real principle in Jewish law. The point is that Jesus exceeds every limit of agency. Stay focused on the specific ways Jesus breaks the agent pattern rather than dismissing the concept entirely.
Learn the four limits of agency well enough to list them aloud: in Scripture an agent is never called by God's name or title, never accepts worship or prayer, never claims to be God, and is never entrusted with spirits at death. Read and , with the scene around it, side by side until you can contrast the angel's refusal with Jesus' acceptance from memory. Check the NWT wording of , 'to no one else', for yourself. Practise the doorstep question aloud as an open invitation. Expect ; rehearse noting that Moses is 'God to Pharaoh' and is never worshipped. Treat agency as a real principle rather than dismissing it.